Trailer released for latest Star Wars story Rogue One

Kelvin Stuttard

Star Wars fans have hailed the return of rebel leader Mon Mothma in the trailer for the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One.

Although the casting has not officially been announced, fans have widely speculated that the actress is Genevieve O'Reilly - who played the political leader in 2005's Star Wars prequel, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Twitter user Bobbly Reichle wrote: "What's crazy is how little screen time Mon Mothma had previously, but when I saw her I was ecstatic. Props to the actress playing her."

Brian Lloyd wrote online: "Shout-out to Irish-born actress Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma in the Rogue One trailer. She's pretty spot-on as a younger version."

Mon Mothma originally appeared in 1983's Return of the Jedi, when she was played by Caroline Blakiston.

Still from the teaser trailer. Photo: YouTube

O'Reilly was cast to play a younger version of the character in Revenge of the Sith, but her speaking part was cut.

Sean Chriscole wrote on Twitter: "Really chuffed to see Genevieve O'Reilly finally shine as Mon Mothma, with dialogue and not in a deleted scene!"

The trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars story gives Mon Mothma a central role, as she sends young rebel Jyn Erso - played by The Theory of Everything's Felicity Jones - on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, the planet-destroying weapon of the evil Empire.

Inspecting Jyn, she comments: "On your own from the age of 15, reckless, aggressive, and undisciplined."

The film's heroine fires back: "This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel."

Mon Mothma then tells her: "A major weapons test is imminent. We need to know what it is and how to destroy it."

The movie, led by Godzilla and Monsters director Gareth Edwards, takes place between Episode III and Episode IV.

Following on from 2005 prequel movie Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith, it provides a back-story to the first scenes of 1997's Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, when Princess Leia is seen concealing the plans for the Death Star in the droid R2-D2 before she is captured by the Galactic Empire.

Rogue One is the first of three planned stand-alone spin-off films. Auditions are reportedly taking place for another of the anthology films, which tells the story of a young Han Solo.

Rogue One was written by Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz, from an idea by long-time Star Wars visual effects supervisor John Knoll.